Sports Briefing

Published: July 19, 2006

BASEBALL

TWO TIMES AT BAT FOR BUCK O'NEIL -- Buck O'Neil, 94, a star for the Negro leagues' Kansas City Monarchs, batted last night in the All-Star Game of the independent Northern League.

Leading off for the West in the top of the first inning in the game at Kansas City, Kan., O'Neil took two balls from Kansas City T-Bones pitcher Jonathan Krysa, the second one narrowly missing his head. He then took a called strike before he walked, as planned. He was replaced by a pinch-runner.

O'Neil was allowed to bat again in the bottom of the first and took three balls before swinging at a pitch and almost spinning off his feet. The umpire gave him two more balls before sending him to first base with his second walk of the game.

The T-Bones signed O'Neil to a one-day contract, making him the oldest man to play professional baseball. He surpassed 83-year-old Jim Eriotes, who struck out in a minor league game in South Dakota earlier this month.

''I imagine the bat's a little heavier than that club I've been swinging,'' said O'Neil, who maintained that he could still shoot his age in golf. ''It's been a long time since I've picked up a bat.''

The appearance was part of an effort to help O'Neil gain entrance into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

BASKETBALL

EIGHTH STRAIGHT DEFEAT FOR LIBERTY -- Lisa Leslie had 20 points and 11 rebounds and the Los Angeles Sparks handed the visiting Liberty its eighth straight loss, 70-62. The Sparks won their sixth straight. Shameka Christon scored 18 points and Kelly Schumacher added 17 for the Liberty. Becky Hammon missed her third straight game with an ankle injury.

SOCCER

JUVENTUS FILES APPEAL -- Juventus has appealed its demotion to Serie B and the loss of two Serie A titles in Italy's match-fixing scandal. The club argued that the sanctions were excessive, a club spokesman, Roberto Patriarca, said yesterday. Lazio, Fiorentina and A.C. Milan confirmed yesterday that they would also appeal. The appeals hearing will begin Saturday, the Italian soccer federation said.

TENNIS

SERENA WILLIAMS RETURNS -- Serena Williams played in her first tournament in six months yesterday, beating Anastasia Myskina, 6-2, 6-2, in the first round of the Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open in Mason, Ohio. Williams, who has been bothered by a chronic left knee injury, chose the Tier III event for her first match since losing in the third round of the Australian Open.